Bolt Preview Shows the Old Version or Won't Refresh
Quick Answer
How do I fix Bolt Preview Shows the Old Version or Won't Refresh?
WebContainer state can get stale. The preview panel doesn't always hot-reload correctly. Start with "Refresh the preview" before making broader code changes.
Fix signals
- What this answers
- Why bolt preview shows the old version or won't refresh happens and what to change first.
- Fastest move
- Refresh the preview
- Use this page if
- Bolt.new won't preview the project
If this keeps happening
Open the next decision, not just the patch
Use these when the current fix is helpful, but the real answer is a better tool choice, a cleaner workflow layer, or a more trustworthy launch path.
Bolt reviews
Open this when the prototype came fast but the rebuild cost is starting to show up in auth, deploy, or state problems.
Open this next →
Bolt vs v0
Open this when the real decision is whether you still need a browser-first prototype tool or a stronger frontend base.
Open this next →
Fillout vs Typeform
Open this when forms, onboarding, intake, or checkout are the next workflow layer breaking after the app shell is already in place.
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Deploy hub
Open this when the build error is one symptom and the bigger problem is your production handoff and hosting workflow.
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Cursor review
Open this when deploy pain is pushing you toward a more code-first workflow with tighter control.
Open this next →
Quick Fix Summary
| Most likely cause | WebContainer state can get stale. The preview panel doesn't always hot-reload correctly. |
| Fastest fix | Refresh the preview |
| Use this page if | Bolt.new won't preview the project |
Exact errors people search for
If one of these matches what you are seeing, you are likely on the right fix page.
Why doesn't Bolt show me the preview? Bolt.new won't preview the project Bolt preview is not showing the latest changes Bolt preview refresh does nothing
You're in the right place if...
- !Bolt.new won't preview the project
- !Preview shows the old version even after edits
- !The preview refresh button does nothing
- !Preview is stuck or frozen
Why this happens
WebContainer state can get stale. The preview panel doesn't always hot-reload correctly.
Fix
Refresh the preview
Click the refresh icon in the preview panel (circular arrow).
If still stuck
Close and reopen the preview panel. If that doesn't work, hard refresh the entire Bolt.new tab (Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + R).
Last resort
Start a new project and paste your current code. This resets the WebContainer entirely.
Prevent this next time
Save/export to GitHub regularly so you can always start fresh without losing work.
Frequently Asked Questions
WebContainers run in your browser. Memory pressure or long-running processes can cause the preview to stall.
No. Refreshing the preview doesn't affect your code. Only starting a new project loses unsaved work.